Rockley Farm or barefoot transition myself?

[wellsat]

G has been on off lame for almost a year now with hind PSD and tbh his front hoof conformation isn't great either.

Its got to the stage where we may have to consider PTS as he isn't comfortable or happy.

My new farrier has suggested that he would like to try taking him barefoot and see if that helps and he also suggested sending him to Rockley farm to see what they can do.

Has anyone had success with getting a PSD horse sound by going barefoot? While the problem is behind the more I read about PSD the more I think his poor hoof balance at the front may have been a big factor.

 

[Janah]

Bump

 

[ThePony]

Why not contact Nic and have a chat? I'm sure you could transition at home, but since it sounds like last chance saloon for your chap then why not get the best on board. Nic is an absolute legend and incredibly generous with her time and knowledge. You obv have the option to send to Rockly or do at home (can you get down several tonnes of gravel - it is magical stuff and will help no end!) but either way I would contact her for her take on things.
Best of luck, I look forward to hearing positive progess reports from you guys in the future!

 

[wellsat]

Thanks, I've emailed Nic, waiting to see what she says. Really hope she thinks it worth a try with him.

 

[amandap]

Sounds like very good advice from your farrier. Good luck and I'm sure Nic will have lots of expertise to offer even if he doesn't go to Rockley. A period there imo would give him a fab start and perhaps take some of the stress off you as well as giving Nic a chance for a good assessment of him.

 

[Holly Hocks]

Wellsat - I have a horse with hind limb PSD - and navicular - and bilateral spavin!! I had her shoes taken off five weeks ago. I haven't done box rest with her as she will do more damage to herself in the box - I turn her out for a few hours during the day and she is in the rest of the time. She is perfectly sane if she gets a few hours out. Anyway, she will be off work until at least Spring, when I will get the ligament scanned, start walking her out and taking her to the equine swimming pool. After six weeks I will get her scanned again and see what the difference is.
I have decided to go barefoot and I enlisted a registered barefoot trimmer who is good. I don't know yet whether barefoot is the answer but like you, it's the last thing to try and I definitely think it's worth a go.

 

[Orangehorse]

At Rockley Farm they have lots of experience and ideal conditions, including equine company, variable terrain tracks and turnout and knowledge.

Given that your horse has a treatable condition you can do it at home, but it won't be easy
if you don't have those conditions. If he does go to Rockley, though, you will have to carry on the rehabilitation at home when he comes back.

Good luck.

 

[wellsat]

Thanks, I'm leaning towards sending him to Rockley if they wil take him and the insurance will contribute. Hopefully NFU are feeling generous!

I know there have been posts on here in the past about what to feed in preparation for going barefoot. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

 

[Holly Hocks]

It needs to be low starch, high fibre -Allen and Page Fast Fibre is brilliant, but neither of my horses will touch it!
I feed Readigrass, speedibeet and a small amount of Spillers High fibre cubes. I supplement with micronised linseed, brewers yeast and magnesium oxide. However I have just bought something called Pro-Hoof from ebay from a seller called Progressive Earth as I read some good reviews on here about it. It apparently has good levels of the minerals required, and that way I know I'm not missing anything. Good luck if you decide to do it.

 

[Oberon]

Rockley Farm takes the question mark out of it all for you. You know your horse is safe and you know you are likely to get a sound horse back (Nic would tell you straight if there was no hope from the outset).

But she doesn't have a magic wand and barefoot rehab is perfectly possible at home....as long as you have the right support and the will to change diet/management where needed.

Nic will be able advise you better when you discuss the horse with her.

P.S. You farrier sounds AWESOME! Thank goodness he is willing to put your horse before his ego - that can be rare nowadays

 

[wellsat]

Thanks, he's currently on top line cubes, veg oil and turmeric.

He won't eat Speedibeet, I tried him on it last winter when he dropped weight. He will eat own brand hi fibre nuts from the local feed store though so maybe it would be worth swapping to them? Would he also need brewers yeast and mag ox?

 

[wellsat]

P.S. You farrier sounds AWESOME! Thank goodness he is willing to put your horse before his ego - that can be rare nowadays

My guess would be that he's got no need to be defensive because he's only just taken me on. If he'd been shoeing my horse for years and I wanted to change he could see it as a criticism .

He even had a copy of Feet First in his van which he showed me and was talking about my options

 

[maggiesmum]

He even had a copy of Feet First in his van which he showed me and was talking about my options

Now that is pretty cool! Its really happening isn't it.... we have moorman on here who's very pro barefoot and your farrier and just today a friend was telling me about her farrier
and how he though feet should be allowed to be the shape they need to be rather than looking like a perfectly matched text book image and that all shod horses should have a shoe holiday!

 

[Oberon]

OMG - do you think they'll stop dismissing us all as crackpots?

 

[Oberon]

Thanks, he's currently on top line cubes, veg oil and turmeric.

He won't eat Speedibeet, I tried him on it last winter when he dropped weight. He will eat own brand hi fibre nuts from the local feed store though so maybe it would be worth swapping to them? Would he also need brewers yeast and mag ox?

He may be OK on that diet.

But if you hit a problem, diet is always the first port of call.

Things like excess sugar/stress/toxins/high grain kills the alkaline, fibre eating, bacteria in the hind gut (a big vat where the horse ferments grass/hay/fibre to make energy) and the carnage releases toxins in the bloodstream which wreak havoc on the laminae. So you get a sore/gimpy horse (shod horses don't tend to feel it until it becomes an acute attack of laminitis) See Dr Pollitt's research for more info.

So cautious barefooters watch the sugar and starch content in feeds (needs to be less than 10%), stay away from molasses/mogolo and all it's other guises, watch what wormers we use, watch what fillers and additives we feed....

There are some tricks we've learned over the years......

Minerals added to the diet in balanced ratio yields great results. Magnesium was the first part of the puzzle - but we've moved on to balancing them all nowadays.

Magnesium is a good start though.

Brewer's Yeast (I use Yea-Sacc nowadays instead is basically like buying the gut's bacteria a beer to say thank you and keep them happy.

Micronised linseed to provide the omega oils for good general health (and a nice coat).

Sometimes alfalfa isn't the answer. I'm not a fan of the stuff, although others use it successfully.

Adding mint/turmeric/fenugreek/herbs/rosehips/aniseed/fennel seeds to feeds to make them tasty but still therapeutic.

(also - in Feet First they mention seaweed - that was soooo 2008...It's now only recommended if you have a genuine iodine depletion in the soil).

 

[wellsat]

Got a lovely email from Nic this morning, now just need to persuade my vet to go for it!

 

[loverly]

Wow.. reading this is exactly what I've gone through (well still am!). I've spoken to Nic at Rockley and as I live close, she is coming out to my place to see the horse's hooves. Farrier is happy, and took shoes off today.

My horse also has PSD and althought the vet does not think it is connected to the hooves - I firmly believe it is. He stands with almost his front hooves touching his hind, so it will have effect on his suspensorys. As soon as he had his shoes off, he instantly stood better, not quite perfect but nearly there.

Btw.. Nic is super! Offering advice and going out of her way to help as much as she can.

(Just realised this isn't much use to you, but you know someone else is going through exactly the same thing as you at the same time!)

 

[Ssuzz]

G has been on off lame for almost a year now with hind PSD and tbh his front hoof conformation isn't great either.

Its got to the stage where we may have to consider PTS as he isn't comfortable or happy.

My new farrier has suggested that he would like to try taking him barefoot and see if that helps and he also suggested sending him to Rockley farm to see what they can do.

Has anyone had success with getting a PSD horse sound by going barefoot? While the problem is behind the more I read about PSD the more I think his poor hoof balance at the front may have been a big factor.

Hi just researching Rockley and going barefoot and came across your post from a few years ago. I would be really interested to know the outcome for your horse. Mine has nearly identical issues and it did occur to me PSD hind and front navicular may be linked to poor hoof balance/ shoeing. Did you go barefoot and if so what was the outcome? Thanks

 

[DabDab]

I don't think the OP posts on here anymore, but I believe user J1ffy sent a horse of hers to Rockley once so might be worth sending her a PM.

 

[Ssuzz]

Thanks for info.. I will !